Custom Set Up of a Canon EOS 1DX Mark II for a Nature Photographer

Canon has recently launched the EOS 1DX Mark II, a successor to the 1DX. They are now freely available and the price dropped a fair amount following the Rio Olympics, where the camera was used extensively.

There are a number of upgrades to the previous model. Frame rate is upped to 14 fps and 16fps in Live View. 4K video can be captured at 60fps and Full HD at 120fps. There is now a Dual Pixel AF which grabs focus faster than the 1DX and to record all this data quickly, the camera has a CFast card slot. (A great pity Canon did not put in two CFast slots – the other slot is for CF). The new camera sensor has been upgraded to 20,2 MP and has improved dynamic range and low light performance. I have certainly seen an improvement of detail in the shadows over previous models.

The set up is similar to the 1DX with a number of additional features and options. Video has a stack of options that are not covered in this blog.

I chose to save three sets of set ups under the Custom Controls C1,C2,C3 under Custom Function 6. I have set up for Landscape photography, General Nature which would include most wildlife in a relatively static mode and then a set up for “action” nature which is mainly centered on bird flight photography and any other fast action. To facilitate this further, I have set up a “MY MENU” #2 which contains all the AF settings (PURPLE in the Menu) so you can adjust the three elements making up the AF Case and also focus or speed priorities.

Custom Controls offer a number of possibilities for programming particular buttons for certain functions. This would be a very personal choice depending on your own likings.

TABLE OF SAVED SETTINGS FOR A CANON EOS 1DX MARK II

MENU/FUNCTION/MODE

C1

C2

C3

Landscape

“General” Nature

“Action” Nature

SHOOTING

Shooting mode

Av

Av

M

Metering Mode

Evaluative

Evaluative

Evaluative

Aperture

f/8

f/5.6

f/5.6

Shutter speed

–

–

1/2000

ISO Settings (RED #2)*

200

400

800

Range

50-25600

100-25600

100-25600

Auto ISO Range Note 1

n/a

n/a

n/a

Min. Shutter Speed Note 1

n/a

n/a

n/a

Menus

RED#1

WB

AWB

AWB

AWB

Set Custom WB

–

–

–

WB Shift/Bkt

0,0/±0

0.0/±0

0,0/±0

Color Space

Adobe RGB

Adobe RGB

Adobe RGB

Picture Style Note 2

Standard

Standard

Standard

Lens Aberration Correction Note 3

Disabled

Disabled

Disabled

Multiple Exposure

Disabled

Disabled

Disabled

RED#2

JPEG Quality

L(n/a)

L(n/a)

L(n/a)

Image type/size

RAW

RAW

RAW

ISO Speed settings

see above

see above

see above

Auto Lighting Optimiser

OFF

OFF

OFF

Long Exp. Noise Reduction

OFF

OFF

OFF

High ISO Noise Reduction

OFF

OFF

OFF

Highlight Tone Priority*

OFF

OFF

OFF

RED #3

Image Review

8 sec.

8 sec.

8 sec.

Beep

Disabled

Disabled

Disabled

Release Shutter w/o Card

OFF

OFF

OFF

Mirror Lockup*

OFF

OFF

OFF

Dust Delete Data

–

–

–

External Speedlite Control

Flash Firing

Enable

Enable

Enable

E-TTL II Metering

Evaluative

Evaluative

Evaluative

Flash Sync . Speed in Av Mode

Auto

Auto

Auto

Anti-flicker shooting

Disabled

Disabled

Disabled

RED #4

Live View Shooting

Enable

Enable

Enable

AF Method

FlexiZoneAF☐

FlexiZoneAF☐

FlexiZoneAF☐

Grid Display

OFF

OFF

OFF

Exposure Simulation

Enable

Enable

Enable

RED#5

Silent LV Shooting

Mode 1

Mode 1

Mode 1

Metering Timer

8 sec.

8sec.

8 sec.

LV Touch Control

Standard

Standard

Standard

PURPLE #1

AF Case Note 4

Case 1 (0,0,0) n/a

Case 3 adj.(-2,1,0)

Case 3 adj. (-2,1,0)

PURPLE #2

AI Servo 1st Image Priority

Focus (+2) n/a

Focus (+2)

Equal Priority

AI Servo 2nd Image Priority

Focus (+2) n/a

Focus (+2)

Equal Priority

PURPLE #3

USM Lens Electronic MF

En. After 1 shot MF

n/a

n/a

AF Assist Beam Firing

IR

IR

IR

PURPLE #4

Auto AF point Selection:EOS iTR AF

OFF

OFF

OFF

Lens Drive When AF Impossible

ON

ON

ON

Selectable AF Point

61 pt.

61 pt.

61 pt.

Select AF area selection mode

excl. zones and auto

excl. zones and auto

excl. zones and auto

AF Area Selection Method

M-Fn

M-Fn

M-Fn

Orientaion Linked AF point

Separate:pt only

Separate:pt only

Separate:pt only

Initial AF pt, in AI servo

Initial pt. selected

Initial pt. selected

Initial pt. selected

PURPLE #5

AF pt. Selection Movement

Continuous

Continuous

Continuous

AF point Display During Focus

All AF points

All AF points

All AF points

AF Point Brightness

Normal

Normal

Normal

AF Status in Viewfinder

Outside

Outside

Outside

AF Microadjustment

ON

ON

ON

BLUE #2

Image Jump with turn of wheel

1

1

1

BLUE #3

Highlight Alert

Enable

Enable

Enable

AF Point Display

Enable

Enable

Enable

Playback Grid

OFF

OFF

OFF

Histogram Display

RGB

RGB

RGB

Movie Play Count

Rec. Time

Rec. Time

Rec. Time

Magnification

1x

1x

1x

Control Over HDMI

Disable

Disable

Disable

YELLOW #1

Record func. + card/folder Select

Standard

Standard

Standard

File Numbering

Continuous

Continuous

Continuous

File Name

Preset

Preset

Preset

Auto Rotate

Computer Only

Computer Only

Computer Only

Format Card*

YELLOW #2

Auto Power Off

30 mins

30 mins

30 mins

LCD Brightness

5

5

5

Viewfinder Display

Show Electronic Level

INFO button display options

Custom Quick Control Screen

YELLOW #3

Video System

PAL

PAL

PAL

Sensor Cleaning*

Communication Settings

Disable

Disable

Disable

GPS Settings Note 5

Disable

Disable

Disable

HDMI Frame Rate

Auto

Auto

Auto

YELLOW #4

Custom Shooting Modes

C1,C2,C3 set

C1,C2,C3 set

C1,C2,C3 set

Firmware Version

1.0.2

1.0.2

1.0.2

ORANGE #1

Exposure Level Increments

1/3

1/3

1/3

ISO Speed Setting Increments

1/3

1/3

1/3

Bracketing Auto Cancel

ON

ON

ON

Bracketing Sequence

0-+

0-+

0-+

Number of Bracketed Shots

5

5

5

Spot Meter Linked to AF Point

Active Point

Active Point

Active Point

ORANGE #2

Safety Shift

OFF

OFF

ISO

Same exposure for New Aperture

OFF

OFF

OFF

ORANGE #3

Restrict Shooting Modes Note 6

None

None

None

Restrict Metering Modes

Evaluative only

Evaluative only

Evaluative Only

Metering used in Manual Exposure

Evaluative

Evaluative

Evaluative

Set Shutter Speed Range

Default

Default

Default

Set Aperture Range

1.4 to 32

1.4 to 22

1.4 to 22

AE Microadjustment

OFF

OFF

OFF

FE Microadjustment

OFF

OFF

OFF

ORANGE #4

Continuous Shooting Speed

14(16),10,5,3

14(16),10,5,3

14(16),10,5,3

Limit Continuous Shot Count

–

–

–

Restrict Drive Modes

None

None

None

ORANGE #5

Focusing Screen

Std

Std

Std

Viewfinder Info During Exposure

OFF

OFF

OFF

LCD Panel illumination During Bulb

OFF

OFF

OFF

Recording card, image size setting

Rear LCD Panel

Rear LCD Panel

Rear LCD Panel

ORANGE #6

Warnings in Viewfinder

–

–

–

Dial Direction during Tv/Av

Default

Default

Default

Av Setting without lens

OFF

OFF

OFF

Multi Function Lock

Quick Control

Quick Control

Quick Control

Custom Controls

see below

see below

see below

key/microphone button function

Rec Memo

Rec Memo

Rec Memo

ORANGE #7

Add Cropping Information

OFF(3:2)

OFF(3:2)

OFF(3:2)

Timer Duration

6 sec

6 sec.

6 sec.

Shutter Release Time Lag

Shortened

Shortened

Shortened

Memo Quality Audio

48kHz

48kHz

48kHz

Default Erase option

[Cancel] Selected

[Cancel] Selected

[Cancel] Selected

Retract Lens on Power Off

n/a

n/a

n/a

MY MENU #1 (*)

Mirror Lock Up

Format Card

Highlight Tone Priority

Sensor Cleaning

Custom Controls

ISO Speed Setting

MY MENU #2 (AF Functions)

Tracking Sensitivity

Accel/decel tracking

AF point auto switching

AI Servo 1st Image Priority

AI Servo 2nd Image Priority

AF Microadjustment

CUSTOM CONTROLS C.Fn.6

Shutter Button

metering start only

metering start only

metering start only

AF-ON Button

AE Lock

Metering and AF

Metering and AF

* Button

Metering and AF

Metering and AF

Metering and AF

DOF Button

AF Stop

AF Stop

AF Stop

Lens AF Stop Button

One Shot=AI Servo

One Shot=AI Servo

One Shot=AI Servo

M-Fn

Switch Custom Shoot

Switch Custom Shoot

Switch Custom Shoot

M -Fn 2

Switch Reg AF Fn

Switch Reg AF Fn

Switch Reg AF Fn

SET

WB

WB

WB

Main Dial

Tv

Tv

Tv

Quick Control Dial

Av

Av

Av

Toggle

AF pt. Selection

AF pt. Selection

AF pt. Selection

Mn-F2 Note

Can Set up a different AF configuration and toggle between your normal set up that is saved in theCustom Shooting Mode (C1,C2,C3) and the different AF configuration.

Example you may quickly want to change just the AF area selection mode by merely pushing M-Fn 2 button and holding . Releasing it gets you back to your saved setting. Just another alternative rather than having to enter “My Menu” and changing the AF set up.

In this way, I have changed the area selection as follows:

C1: from single point to expand AF Area:surround

C2: from Expand AF Area:Expand AF surround to Expand AF area

C3: from Expand AF Area:Expand AF surround to Expand AF area

OTHER NOTES

Note 1: If you set ISO to Auto, then you should configure your range and minimum shutter speed

Note 2: This is only for representation of the LCD image. If you use DPP for Raw conversion then these settings will appear when you open the RAW image in DPP. In this instance it is only the sharpening setting that will be transferred (setting 3) which is just fine

.

Note 3: You can do this in camera. Both Lightroom, ACR and DPP have adjustments for this.

Note 4: These settings assume that you using single point AF in C1 and expansion in C2 and C3

Note 5: You can enable GPS settings if you so wish. Will shorten battery operation